Weekly Roundup, January 8th – January 14th
GLCL XC: Monmouth Gallery
Kymin Winter Race Gallery
Paul Stillman has posted some excellent photos from various parts of the tough Kymin Winter Race course and captured all four of our club members. He also managed to catch a couple of Gurner Gallery contenders.
Mike Matthews Wardrobe Malfunction
Some would say it’s a wardrobe malfunction, others may say it’s the start of a new trend. Others would say that doing Danielle’s core class with inside out shorts may cause a few complications in the trouser department.
Rogue Runs: Beechenhurst
The second of three night races organised by Rogue Runs and this is probably the toughest of the three. Located at Beechenhurst Lodge in the Forest of Dean, the 5-ish mile loop features everything you’d want from a night trail race – hills, very technical sections, fast downhills, mud and trying to keep upright!
Eight club members successfully battled the mud, everyone kept their shoes on the entire way and almost all stayed upright. Sam Lewis Jones lost a few crucial places on the last furlong with a fall on a tricky smoke-filled ditch. The ladies did superb coming second overall with the men finishing fifth. (Photo Credit: Tosh Simpkin)
Richard and Sarah getting their raving slap on!
parkrun
Well done to Nick Rhys Gregory for securing a new PB of 27:06 at Parc Bryn Bach parkrun.
Tourists
Rob Bennett is on a roll lately and is continually inching his way closer to sub-20. He knocked 17 seconds of his Cwmbran parkrun PB and finished in an amazing 2nd place in 20:28.
Elsewhere, Mr Jolly and Danielle Phillips were in Swansea, Lydia Cawsey was in Rogiet, Sam and Hayley Jackson and Lauren Cooper were in Penallta, Lee Griffiths was in Newport, Kelly and Katharine Collins, Stephen Dallow and James Williams were in Merthyr, Andrew Meadows was in Gnoll and Sam Jones was Conwy.
Talybont Reservoir Loop
Switching the traditional Sunday long run to Saturday, a small group of us headed out to Talybont Reservoir for a 14-mile hillerific loop (with added hills!). As with all group runs there were lots of laughs and everyone put in a great effort, particularly on the hills. Well done to Laura Hire for completing her longest run to date.
At mile 13 we were fortunate enough to encounter an aid station that had been set up for an ultra marathon. As they were due to leave soon we were encouraged to tuck into the goodies on offer.
It wasn’t long before we reached the finish at Talybont-on-Usk where Marcus Smith whipped out a carrot cake from the boot of his Jag! With a huge fondness for cake, I’m curious to know if there’s also a cake stash in the glove box!
Alex Thomas London Landmarks Half Marathon Training
As part of the preparation for the London Landmarks Half Marathon, Alex Thomas travelled to London for a training day with the Royal British Legion – the charity she is raising money for.
Dark Moors 2018
Sam Standerwick travelled to Ringwood on Saturday for the Dark Moors 2018. Organised by White Star Running, the 5 mile and 10 mile races took place in the dark around the trails and woods of Moors Valley Country Park. As usual for WSR, there was chunky bling and freebies like biscuits for finishing and a Love Station along the way.
Riverbank Rollick
Helen Williams was representing the club at the Riverbank Rollick in Thornbury. The tough 9 mile race is predominantly off road and features stream to wade through before crossing the finish line.
Cardiff Metropolitan University New Year Open Grand Prix
Stephen Mathers and Stephen Williams competed in the Cardiff Metropolitan University New Year Open Grand Prix on Sunday. Stephen Williams won his event (M55 800m Welsh Masters) and Stephen Mathers came second in the M35 800m (2:08) and first in the M35 200m (26.7). Louise Kirby was also running.
Grim Reaper
The brand new Grim Reaper Mynydd Llangors fell race took place on Sunday with four club members taking part. Looks like it was a muddy one!
Buff Wales Trail 10K
Owen Davies competed in the Buff Trail 10K in Margam Park on Sunday morning which featured a ‘horrendous’ hill in the last 1K (“I almost spewed”). Also running were two First Strides members Bryony and Jo (time to join the Green Army?).
Festive 5K
Due to icy conditions, the Aneurin Bevan Festive 5k had to be postponed in December and rescheduled to this Sunday. We had a number of green vests running the race and Lee and Kath provided their expert timing services at the finish line.
Pontypool Home Run 10k Recce
There was a great turnout for the second Pontypool Home Run 10k recce run with PBB joining forces with Pontypool Runners and Blaenavon Joggers.
Mike Williams’ Long Sunday Run
Mike Williams’ took a crew out on a run to 10 mile run to Cwm on Sunday morning (with some extending to 17 miles for marathon training). Not pictured are the camera-shy Taff Palfrey and Kathryn Price.
Welsh Athletics Coaching in Running Fitness
We’ve almost got a Welsh Athletics Coaching in Running Fitness in the club after Damian Williams completed day 3 of a 4 day course today.
Lanta-Haf’s PB
After a bit of encouragement during Sunday’s Junior parkrun, Katharine Collin’s daughter knocked a whole minute of her PB! We look forward to welcoming her to the club in the future!
Happy 18th Cerys!
Whilst we were all hard at work training and running races, Bobbie and Cerys-Scarlett Swift were in Amsterdam visiting sights such as the Ice Bar and the Cheese Museum(?)!
Twin Piers 10k
Congratulations to Sian Price for getting a 10k PB of 45:13 in the Twin Piers 10k in Colwyn Bay on Saturday.
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